U.S. patent number 9,296,635 [Application Number 14/204,161] was granted by the patent office on 2016-03-29 for method and apparatus for pressure control of glass-making thickness-control zone.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Corning Incorporated. The grantee listed for this patent is Corning Incorporated. Invention is credited to Paul Gregory Chalk, Ahdi El Kahlout, Shawn Rachelle Markham.
United States Patent |
9,296,635 |
Chalk , et al. |
March 29, 2016 |
Method and apparatus for pressure control of glass-making
thickness-control zone
Abstract
Managing pressure within a thickness-control-zone (muffle door)
housing relative to pressures in a glass-making machine enclosure
and an upper chamber that is disposed outside the enclosure so as
to minimize or control undesired airflows that would adversely
affect thickness of glass ribbon. According to one pressure
management technique, the pressure at a location in the housing is
managed so as to be less than the pressure at a location that is
within the enclosure as well as both outside and adjacent to the
housing. In the event of a leak, as by a crack or unintended
opening in the housing, for example, this pressure difference
reduces or prevents airflow toward the ribbon and, thereby,
undesired thickness variation in the ribbon. According to a second
pressure-management technique, the pressure at the location is
managed so as to be greater than the pressure in the upper
chamber.
Inventors: |
Chalk; Paul Gregory (Corning,
NY), El Kahlout; Ahdi (Lexington, KY), Markham; Shawn
Rachelle (Harrodsburg, KY) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Corning Incorporated |
Corning |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Corning Incorporated (Corning,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
44067830 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/204,161 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20140190213 A1 |
Jul 10, 2014 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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12627212 |
Nov 30, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C03B
17/064 (20130101); C03B 17/067 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C03B
17/06 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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202072600 |
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Dec 2011 |
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CN |
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1354006 |
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Jun 1974 |
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GB |
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02-149438 |
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Jun 1990 |
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JP |
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2008/132939 |
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Nov 2008 |
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WO |
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2009/081740 |
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Jul 2009 |
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WO |
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2009/081741 |
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Jul 2009 |
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WO |
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2011/077734 |
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Jun 2011 |
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WO |
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2011/077756 |
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Jun 2011 |
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WO |
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2013/046683 |
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Apr 2013 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Franklin; Jodi C
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schmidt; Jeffrey A.
Parent Case Text
This application is a divisional application, and claims the
benefit of priority under 35 USC .sctn.120, of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/627,212, filed on Nov. 30, 2009, entitled
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRESSURE CONTROL OF GLASS-MAKING
THICKNESS-CONTROL ZONE, the contents of which are relied upon and
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus, for making glass, comprising: a forming body
having an end from which the glass is drawn; a housing having a
front wall, the front wall facing the end of the forming body; a
first fluid comprising a first pressure at a location in the
housing and adjacent to the front wall; a tube including an outlet
disposed within the housing; a fluid source coupled to the tube so
as to deliver fluid through the outlet to control the a temperature
of the front wall; an enclosure surrounding the forming body and
the housing; and a second fluid comprising a second pressure at a
second location in the enclosure as well as both outside and
adjacent to the housing; a chamber disposed around a portion of the
enclosure in which is disposed the housing, a third fluid
comprising a third pressure in the chamber; and a second tube
coupled for fluid communication between the housing and the chamber
one of a vacuum, pump, blower, fan, or compressor, disposed in
fluid communication with the second tube and configured to move
fluid from the housing to the chamber wherein the second pressure
of the second fluid is greater than the first pressure of the first
fluid.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first pressure of the
first fluid is greater than the third pressure of the third
fluid.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a chamber disposed
around a portion of the enclosure in which is disposed the housing,
a third fluid comprising a third pressure in the chamber; and a
second tube coupled for fluid communication between the housing and
a space outside the chamber.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first pressure of the
first fluid is greater than the third pressure of the third
fluid.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: one of a vacuum,
pump, blower, fan, or compressor, disposed in fluid communication
with the second tube and configured to move fluid from the housing
to the space outside the chamber.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: one of a vacuum,
pump, blower, fan, or compressor, disposed in fluid communication
with the housing and configured to remove fluid from the
housing.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a chamber disposed
around a portion of the enclosure in which is disposed the housing,
a third fluid comprising a third pressure in the chamber, wherein
the first pressure of the first fluid is greater than the third
pressure of the third fluid.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising; a chamber disposed
around a portion of the enclosure in which is disposed the housing,
a third fluid comprising a third pressure in the chamber, wherein
the first pressure of the first fluid is greater than the third
pressure of the third fluid.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to controlling thickness,
and more particularly thickness variation, in a glass ribbon as the
ribbon is produced, wherein sheets are subsequently separated from
the ribbon.
2. Technical Background
A muffle door is used to control thickness gradients in a glass
ribbon, from which there are separated glass sheets for making
displays--for example, LCDs, plasma displays, OLEDs, and/or
electroluminescent displays--and is generally described in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,682,609. Air is blown through a bank of tubes of
specific diameter a specific distance from a front plate designed
of high thermal conductivity material that faces glass that is at a
temperature above its softening point temperature. The objective is
to generate thermal gradients across the ribbon, perpendicular to
the direction of glass flow. These thermal gradients change the
localized viscosity of the glass in one area relative to another,
impacting the attenuation of the glass, and thus local thickness,
from a downward pull force. The air that discharges from these
tubes circulates in a muffle door housing and is designed to
dissipate out through venting holes 180.degree. from where the air
exits the bank of tubes near the front plate.
SUMMARY
It has been discovered by the present inventors that certain events
may cause the venting holes to not fully perform their intended
function, which may cause a pressure build-up in the muffle door
housing that results in undesired gas flows leaking out of the
muffle door housing. If undesired gas flows impinge upon the glass
ribbon, they may adversely affect the thickness control by causing
undesired thermal gradients in the glass. For example, the present
inventors have discovered that the following events contribute to
increased pressure in the muffle door housing that results in
uncontrolled and/or undesired gas flows out of the muffle door
housing: over time, as condensate builds up, the gas flowing
through the venting holes can decrease--as orifice efficiency is
highly dependent upon edge quality around the orifice hole;
sometimes the amount of gas delivered by the bank of tubes--to
effect the desired thermal gradients in the glass ribbon--increases
beyond the dissipating-capacity of the venting holes; sometimes
pressure changes in an enclosure surrounding a fusion draw machine
(FDM) may affect the ability of gas to flow through the venting
holes and out of the muffle door housing. When the uncontrolled
and/or undesired gas-flows impinge on the glass ribbon, they cause
undesired thickness variation in the ribbon.
The present disclosure sets forth ways to manage pressure within
the muffle door relative to pressures in the FDM enclosure, and in
an upper chamber disposed outside the FDM enclosure, so as to
minimize or control undesired gas flows that would adversely affect
thickness control.
According to one pressure-management technique, the pressure in the
muffle door is managed so as to be less than the pressure at a
location that is within the FDM enclosure as well as both outside
and adjacent to the muffle door. For example, the location may be
between the muffle door housing and the glass or glass ribbon. In
the event of a crack or unintended opening in the muffle door
housing, for example, this pressure difference reduces or prevents
gas flow toward the ribbon and, thereby, undesired thickness
variation.
There are various ways to carry out the first pressure management
technique. For example, gas flow out of the muffle door housing may
be managed by: increasing the size of the existing venting holes in
the muffle door housing; increasing the number of venting holes by
making new holes in the muffle door housing; connecting the muffle
door housing to an air handler to either passively or actively
remove gas from the muffle door housing; disconnecting one or more
of the existing fluid-inlet tubes from its fluid source; and/or
removing one or more of the existing fluid-inlet tubes.
Alternatively, or in addition, the pressure in the FDM enclosure
may be increased. These ways may be used individually, or in
combination with one another.
According to a second pressure-management technique, the pressure
in the muffle door is managed so as to be greater than the pressure
in a chamber that is disposed around the outside of at least the
portion of the FDM enclosure in which the muffle door is disposed.
Accordingly, there is minimized an adverse affect on thickness due
to any changes in pressure in the chamber that result in reduced
gas flow from the muffle door housing.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the
detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or
recognized by practicing the invention as exemplified in the
written description and the appended drawings. It is to be
understood that both the foregoing general description and the
following detailed description are merely exemplary of the
invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to
understanding the nature and various principles of the invention as
it is claimed.
By way of non-limiting example, the various ways to carry out the
pressure-management techniques of the invention may be combined
into various aspects as follows:
According to a first aspect there is provided a method of producing
a glass sheet with reduced thickness variation, the method
including: drawing a glass ribbon from a forming body that is
disposed within an enclosure; delivering fluid to a housing, that
is disposed within the enclosure and facing the forming body, so as
to control local thickness of the ribbon, wherein delivering fluid
to the housing comprises delivering fluid from a fluid source
through a plurality of tubes having outlets within the housing;
maintaining a first pressure at a location that is in the housing,
and maintaining a second pressure at a second location that is in
the enclosure as well as both outside and adjacent to the housing,
so that the second pressure is greater than the first pressure; and
separating a glass sheet from the ribbon.
According to a second aspect there is provided the method of aspect
1, wherein maintaining the second pressure greater than the first
pressure comprises reducing the first pressure by managing a flow
of fluid out of the housing.
According to a third aspect there is provided the method of aspect
2, wherein managing the flow of fluid out of the housing comprises
disconnecting one or more of the plurality of tubes from the fluid
source so that fluid may flow out of the housing through the
disconnected one or more of the plurality of tubes.
According to a fourth aspect there is provided the method of aspect
3, further comprising coupling the disconnected one or more of the
plurality of tubes to a vacuum, pump, blower, fan, or
compressor.
According to a fifth aspect there is provided the method of aspect
2, wherein managing the flow of fluid out of the housing comprises
removing one or more of the plurality of tubes from the housing so
that fluid may flow out of the housing through a hole vacated by
the one or more of the plurality of tubes.
According to a sixth aspect there is provided the method of aspect
2, wherein managing the flow of fluid out of the housing comprises
actively removing fluid from the housing by a device that is a
vacuum, pump, blower, fan or compressor.
According to a seventh aspect there is provided the method of any
one of aspects 4 or 6, wherein a chamber is disposed around a
portion of the enclosure in which is disposed the housing, and the
fluid removed from the housing is outlet to the chamber.
According to an eighth aspect there is provided the method of
aspect 6, wherein a chamber is disposed around a portion of the
enclosure in which is disposed the housing, and wherein fluid
removed from the housing is outlet to a space outside the
chamber.
According to a ninth aspect there is provided the method of aspect
2, wherein a chamber is disposed around a portion of the enclosure
in which is disposed the housing, and the method further includes:
managing the flow of fluid out of the housing by passively coupling
the housing with the chamber, and maintaining a third pressure in
the chamber so that the third pressure is less than the first
pressure.
According to a tenth aspect there is provided an apparatus, for
making glass, including: a forming body having an end from which
the glass is drawn; a housing having a front wall, the front wall
facing the end of the forming body, a first pressure existing at a
location that is in the housing and adjacent to the front wall; a
tube including an outlet disposed within the housing; a fluid
source coupled to the tube so as to deliver fluid through the
outlet to control the temperature of the front wall; and an
enclosure surrounding the forming body and the housing, a second
pressure existing at a second location that is in the enclosure as
well as both outside and adjacent to the housing, wherein the
second pressure is greater than the first pressure.
According to an eleventh aspect there is provided the apparatus of
aspect 10, further including: a chamber disposed around a portion
of the enclosure in which is disposed the housing, a third pressure
existing in the chamber; and a second tube coupled for fluid
communication between the housing and the chamber.
According to a twelfth aspect there is provided the apparatus of
aspect 11, further comprising one of a vacuum, pump, blower, fan,
or compressor, disposed in fluid communication with the second tube
so as to be capable of moving fluid from the housing to the
chamber.
According to a thirteenth aspect there is provided the apparatus of
aspect 10, further including: a chamber disposed around a portion
of the enclosure in which is disposed the housing, a third pressure
existing in the chamber; and a second tube coupled for fluid
communication between the housing and a space outside the
chamber.
According to a fourteenth aspect there is provided the apparatus of
any one of aspects 11 or 13, wherein the first pressure is greater
than the third pressure.
According to a fifteenth aspect there is provided the apparatus of
aspect 13, further comprising one of a vacuum, pump, blower, fan,
or compressor, disposed in fluid communication with the second tube
so as to be capable of moving fluid from the housing to the space
outside the chamber.
According to a sixteenth aspect there is provided the apparatus of
aspect 10, further comprising one of a vacuum, pump, blower, fan,
or compressor, disposed in fluid communication with the housing so
as to be capable of removing fluid from the housing.
According to a seventeenth aspect there is provided the apparatus
of any one of aspects 10 or 16, further comprising a chamber
disposed around a portion of the enclosure in which is disposed the
housing, a third pressure existing in the chamber, wherein the
first pressure is greater than the third pressure.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of various principles of the invention, and are
incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The
drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), and together with
the description serve to explain, by way of example, various
principles and operation of the invention. It is to be understood
that the various principles and features of the invention disclosed
in this specification and in the drawings can be used in any and
all combinations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a thickness-control-zone
(e.g. muffle door) housing disposed within a fusion-draw-machine
housing that, in turn, is disposed within upper and lower
chambers.
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a back plate of a muffle door
housing.
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus of FIG. 1 as
taken along line 3-3.
FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of pressures at different
locations in the apparatus of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation
and not limitation, example embodiments disclosing specific details
are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of various
principles of the present invention. However, it will be apparent
to one having ordinary skill in the art, having had the benefit of
the present disclosure, that the present invention may be practiced
in other embodiments that depart from the specific details
disclosed herein. Moreover, descriptions of well-known devices,
methods and materials may be omitted so as not to obscure the
description of various principles of the present invention.
Finally, wherever applicable, like reference numerals refer to like
elements.
As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include
plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Thus, for example, reference to a "component" includes aspects
having two or more such components, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise.
Directional terms as used herein--for example up, down, right,
left, front, forward, back, backward--are made only with reference
to the figures as drawn and are not intended to imply absolute
orientation.
The present disclosure sets forth ways to manage pressure within
the muffle door relative to pressures in the FDM enclosure and
upper chamber so as to minimize or control undesired airflows that
would adversely affect thickness control of the glass ribbon.
According to one pressure-management technique, the pressure in the
muffle door is managed so as to be less than the pressure at a
location that is within the FDM enclosure as well as both outside
and adjacent to the muffle door housing. In the event of a leak, as
by a crack or unintended opening in the muffle door housing, for
example, this pressure difference reduces or prevents gas flow
toward the ribbon and, thereby, undesired thickness variation.
According to a second pressure-management technique, the pressure
in the muffle door is managed so as to be greater than the pressure
in a chamber that is disposed around the outside of the portion of
the FDM enclosure in which the muffle door housing is disposed.
Accordingly, there is minimized an adverse affect on thickness due
to any changes in pressure in the chamber that reduce gas flow from
the muffle door housing.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a fusion down-draw machine (FDM) for
making glass. For purposes of explanation, various principles of
the present invention will be set forth in the context of an FDM.
However, it should be noted that the various principles of the
present invention may be applied to other types of glass making
machines and processes, for example, other down-draw processes and
apparatuses, slot-draw, float, and/or up-draw.
As shown in FIG. 1, the FDM includes a forming body 2 and muffle
door housings 20 disposed within an FDM enclosure 60. Various other
equipment 61 may also be disposed within the enclosure 60 below the
housing 20. The enclosure 60 is surrounded by an upper chamber 40
and a lower chamber 50.
The forming body 2 receives molten glass from an inlet pipe 4. The
glass flows over the forming body 2 in two separate flows 6 that
recombine at the end 3 of the forming body 2 to form a glass ribbon
8 having a thickness 9. Although not shown, for purposes of
simplification, various structures are used to move and/or guide
the glass ribbon 8 in a downward direction. A glass sheet 10 is
then separated from the lower end of the ribbon 8 using techniques
known in the art.
A pair of muffle door housings 20 is used to control variations in
thickness 9 across the glass ribbon 8, i.e., in a direction into
and out of the plane of FIG. 1. One housing 20 is disposed on each
side of the ribbon 8. The housings 20 have the same structure and,
therefore, only one will be described in detail. Similarly, various
principles may be explained in connection with one of the shown
housings 20, with the understanding that those same principles may
apply equally to the other housing 20. The housing 20 is disposed
so as to face the forming body 2, and the glass ribbon 8 when the
glass ribbon 8 has a viscosity above its softening point. The
housing 20 includes a front plate 21, a back plate 22, and a
plurality of tubes 23.
The front plate 21 is formed of a material having high
conductivity, low thermal expansion, and a high emissivity constant
with time and temperature. Preferably the front plate 21 is formed
of a silicon carbide slab and the back surface thereof, except for
the bounding borders, is free from contact with any supporting
structure which would cause thermal discontinuity across the face
of the slab. The back plate 22, shown in more detail in FIG. 2,
includes holes 28 through which the tubes 23 extend. The holes 28
may have a diameter substantially the same as, or slightly larger
than, that of the tubes 23. Each of the tubes 23 includes an outlet
24 within the housing 20.
A fluid source 30 is coupled to the tubes 23 by conduit 32. The
fluid may be air, compressed air, any other suitable gas, for
example. Throughout the specification, the term "air" or "airflow"
is used for convenience but is meant to include all suitable types
of gas or other fluid. The fluid is delivered from the fluid source
30, through the conduit 32, through the tubes 23, and into the
interior of the housing 20 so as to impinge on and locally control
the temperature of the front plate 21. The flow of fluid through
each tube 23 may be individually regulated, in a manner known in
the art, to control the thickness gradient across the ribbon 8. The
system is designed so that the fluid then flows out of venting
holes 26 and/or other openings in the back plate 22 (for example
openings created by a differential in size between the tubes 23 and
the holes 28) to a location 67 in the enclosure 60, as indicated by
arrow 68.
The FDM enclosure 60 is disposed around the forming body 2,
housings 20, and equipment 61--for example coil windings,
thermocouples, resistance heaters and/or insulating baskets--in
order to provide a controlled environment (in terms of pressure,
airflow, and/or temperature for example) to the glass making
process. However, over the general section 62, there are various
openings in the enclosure 60 which provide fluid flow paths 64
between the enclosure 60 and the upper chamber 40. These openings
may include intended openings--for electrical connection, for fluid
connection, for entry and/or access to the equipment 61 or other
equipment, for water cooling ports, for resistance heaters, for
coil windings for thermo couples, and/or for tubes 23, for
example--and/or unintended cracks or holes. Even when seals are
provided for the devices inserted through the intended openings,
there may still be leaks in the seal allowing flow along paths
64.
Also, the environment in enclosure 60 is influenced by conditions
in lower chamber 50. That is, for example, a relative differential
in pressure and/or temperature between lower chamber 50 and
enclosure 60 creates convective air flows along paths, exemplified
by arrow 52, from the lower chamber to the enclosure 60.
Additionally, due to the temperature differential within the
enclosure 60 itself, convective currents cause air flows,
exemplified by arrows 63, upward within the enclosure 60. Together
the air flow movement along paths 52 and 63, contribute to a
pressure within the enclosure 60 at location 65. The location 65 is
within the enclosure 60, but is both outside and adjacent to
housing 20. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
(HVAC) for chamber 50 may be used to influence the flow along path
52 and, thus, the pressure at location 65. That is, the HVAC system
can either tend to increase pressure on chamber 50 which would
increase flow along path 52 and thus tend to increase pressure at
location 65, or tend to decrease pressure on chamber 50 which would
tend to decrease flow along path 52 and thus tend to decrease the
pressure at location 65.
A pressure exists at location 25 in housing 20. The pressure in
housing 20 may increase during normal operation of the FDM. For
example, if greater temperature change is required to control
thickness in the ribbon 8, then more fluid may flow into housing 20
via tubes 23. Alternatively, or in addition, the fluid flow out of
the housing 20 through the vent holes 26 and/or openings in rear
plate 22 may be reduced and/or blocked due to condensate build-up
at those locations. Accordingly, if the designed out-flow is not
maintained, pressure may build up in housing 20.
The pressure at location 25 also may increase due to events in the
upper chamber 40. For example, the pressure in upper chamber 40 may
increase due to: a malfunction in a fan or control sensor; a
dramatic change in pressure outside of the upper and lower
chambers, e.g., in plant air; a change in pressure, or pressure
reversal, between the area near inlet 4 and the down comer (not
shown) that is coupled to the inlet 4; a sealing change or air
exfiltration from an encapsulated melt system that is disposed in
the upper chamber. And the increase in pressure in upper chamber 40
may lead to decreased flow along paths 64, and/or decreased flow
along paths 68, thereby increasing the pressure in the housing 20
at location 25.
If the pressure at location 25 increases, as per the above
description or by other factors, beyond the pressure at location
65, there may occur undesired fluid flow out of housing 20 and
towards the ribbon 8. That is, a greater pressure at location 25
than at location 65 would drive fluid out of any cracks or openings
in the housing 20. And this undesired fluid flow toward the ribbon
8 can disadvantageously cause unwanted cooling, which leads to
uncontrolled thickness variation in the ribbon 8.
Accordingly, it is desired to maintain the pressure at location 25
less than the pressure at location 65 so as to prevent any air
flowing from housing 20 toward the ribbon 8. That is, when any
cracks or openings are present in housing 20 (especially in the
portions of housing 20 that are adjacent to ribbon 8), the higher
pressure at location 65 in the enclosure 60 will prevent air
flowing into that region and toward the ribbon 8 from the lower
pressure region at location 25. Pressure sensors, not shown but
known to one of ordinary skill in the art, may be used to monitor
the pressures at locations 25 and 65. These pressures may be easily
compared, and then may be adjusted as necessary to maintain the
desired condition of having the pressure at 25 lower than the
pressure at 65. The pressure at 25 may be maintained lower than the
pressure at 65 in various ways. For example, the pressure at 65 may
be increased by forcing more flow along the paths 52, 63 as noted
above, for example, or the pressure at 25 may be reduced by
managing the flow of fluid out of housing 20. The fluid flow out of
housing 20 may be managed in various different ways.
One way to manage fluid flow out of housing 20 is to make extra
holes 27 in the back plate 22 of the housing. See FIG. 2. The
number and size of the holes 27 can be used as a variable for
adjusting the amount of air flow between the housing 20 and the
enclosure 60 at location 67, which is away from the ribbon 8. The
extra holes 27 may be formed as necessary throughout the duration
of a glass-making operation. That is, for example, upon detection
of an undesired pressure differential between the housing 20 and
the enclosure 60 at location 65, one or more additional holes 27
may be formed in the back plate 22. Then, at a later time, when
another undesired pressure differential between the housing 20 and
the enclosure 60 at location 65 is detected, further additional
holes 27 may be formed in the back plate 22. Moreover, although the
additional holes 27 are shown as being uniformly spaced over the
back of the plate 22, and of the same size, they need not be. That
is, any suitable distribution and combination of sizes may be used
for the additional holes 27. Additionally, although the holes 27
are shown as circular, they may be any suitable shape.
A second way to manage fluid flow from housing is to disconnect the
conduit 32 (and thus fluid source 30) from one or more tubes 23,
thus creating one or more disconnected tubes 29. See FIGS. 2 and 3.
Leaving a disconnected tube 29 in place, but uncoupling the conduit
32 at a location outside of the enclosure 60 will provide a fluid
flow path from housing 20 to the upper chamber 40. Although only
one disconnected tube 29 is shown, any suitable number of
disconnected tubes 29 may be used. Further, the location of the
disconnected tube 29 may be varied as necessary. That is, a
disconnected tube 29 may be used at any desired location across the
width of the ribbon 8, i.e., in the right-and-left direction as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In one embodiment, it is desirable to use a
disconnected tube 29 near the outer edges of the ribbon 8 to
minimize any disturbance near the quality area of the ribbon 8.
This technique offers the advantages of being easy to implement,
and capable of being retro-fit to existing FDMs--even during
continued operation of the FDM.
A third way to manage fluid flow from housing 20 is to remove one
or more of the tubes 23 altogether, thereby providing one or more
holes 28 in rear plate 22. See FIGS. 2 and 3. The one or more holes
28 then allow fluid communication from the housing 20 to the
location 67 in the enclosure 60; this flow may then find its way
into upper chamber 40 along any paths 64 that are present. Although
only one hole 28 is shown, any suitable number of holes 28 may be
used. Further, the location of the holes 28 may be varied as
necessary. That is, a hole 28 may be used at any desired location
across the width of the ribbon 8. In one embodiment, it is
desirable to use a hole 28 near the outer edges of the ribbon 8 to
minimize any disturbance near the quality area of the ribbon 8.
This technique offers the advantages of being easy to implement,
and capable of being retro-fit to existing FDMs--even during
continued operation of the FDM.
A fourth way to manage fluid flow from housing 20 is to increase
the size and/or number of the existing venting holes 26. Because it
may be difficult to access the venting holes 26 from outside the
FDM enclosure 60 during operation of the FDM, this technique may
have limited applicability, but may be desired in some
situations.
A fifth way to manage fluid flow from housing 20 is to provide an
air handler 70 coupled to the housing 20. The air handler 70 may be
coupled to the housing 20 by one or more tubes 23, and/or by a
conduit 78. See FIGS. 1 and 3. The air handler 70 may include a
path 74 so as to provide fluid communication between housing 20 and
upper chamber 40. Alternatively, or in addition, the air handler
may include a path 76 so as to provide fluid communication between
housing 20 and a space outside of upper chamber 40. The air handler
70 may be a passive duct, a vacuum, a pump, a compressor, a fan, or
a blower, for example. The volume and/or mass flow through the air
handler 70 may be monitored in any manner known in the art.
Although the air handler 70 is shown as being coupled to tubes 23
at the ends of a housing 20, it may be coupled to any desired
number of tubes 23 at any desired locations. In one embodiment, it
is advantageous to use the tubes 23 near the outer edges of the
ribbon 8 to minimize any disturbance near the quality area of the
ribbon 8.
When there is ready, passive, fluid communication between the
housing 20 and the upper chamber 40, it is advantageous also to
have the pressure in housing 20 be greater than the pressure in the
upper chamber 40. In this manner, there may be minimized or reduced
the effect on the pressure in housing 20 from disturbances in
pressure in the upper chamber 40. There may be ready, passive,
fluid communication between housing 20 and upper chamber 40 when,
for example: the air handler 70 is a conduit, and the path 74 is
present; the disconnected tube 29 is used; and/or to a lesser
extent, when a tube 23 is removed altogether and the hole in
enclosure 60 through which it used to extend is not sealed (or is
insufficiently sealed).
As noted above, when there is a ready, passive, fluid communication
between housing 20 and upper chamber 40, it is desirable to have
the pressure in housing 20 greater than that in upper chamber 40.
On another hand, there may be situations when it is acceptable to
have the pressure in upper chamber 40 greater than that in housing
20. For example, when the air handler 70 is an active element--for
example a fan, blower, pump, vacuum, or compressor--fluid may be
moved from housing 20 to upper chamber 40 even though the pressure
in chamber 40 is greater than that in housing 20. However, even
when air handler 70 is an active element, it may still be desirable
to have the pressure in housing 20 greater than that in upper
chamber 40 to minimize the effects on airflow along any fluid flow
paths 64 that are present.
A sixth way to manage fluid flow from housing 20 is to manipulate
the HVAC system for upper chamber 40 so as to influence the flow
along path 64 and, thus, the pressure at location 25. That is, this
HVAC system can either tend to increase pressure on chamber 40
which would decrease flow along path 64 and thus tend to increase
pressure at location 25, or tend to decrease pressure on chamber 40
which would tend to increase flow along path 64 and thus tend to
decrease the pressure at location 25.
FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of the pressures discussed
above. Line 100 represents the pressure in the FDM enclosure 60 at
location 65. The pressure 100 at location 65 slightly may vary over
time due to variations in the conditions within the enclosure 60
and/or in the lower chamber 50. Line 104 represents the pressure in
the upper chamber 40. The pressure 104 may instantaneously vary due
to the factors as discussed above. Lines 102 and 106 represent
different target pressures at location 25 in the muffle door
housing 20. According to one embodiment, the target pressure 102 is
below pressure 100, i.e., the pressure in housing 20 is below that
in the enclosure 60 at location 65. According to another
embodiment, target pressure 102 is above pressure 104, i.e., the
pressure in the housing 20 is above the pressure in the upper
chamber 40. According to still another embodiment, target pressure
106 is set below the pressure 104, i.e., the pressure in the
housing 20 is set below that in upper chamber 40.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the
present invention, particularly any "preferred" embodiments, are
merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a
clear understanding of the various principles of the invention.
Many variations and modifications may be made to the
above-described embodiments of the invention without departing
substantially from the spirit and various principles of the
invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be
included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present
invention and protected by the following claims.
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